Filipinos’ Favorite Kakanin You Too Will Surely Love

If you haven’t already heard, ube is the next matcha, and yes, you will have to wonder why it took so long for this traditional Filipino flavor, which is a staple in some if not most of the top favorite kakanin of Filipinos, to make it to the international scene. But then again, it’s about time that the Philippines start making its mark.

Food is usually the backbone in learning a new culture, and the same goes for Filipinos. You can’t say that you’ve immersed yourself fully in the culture unless you find yourself trying the food, especially the native delicacies.

Uniquely Pinoy, these sweet treats and desserts made from rice, sweet rice, and other root vegetables are usually slow-cooked and made with coconut or coconut milk.

Filipinos’ Top Favorite Kakanin

See videos at the end

They’re not exactly the kind of food you can whip up in a flash for guests, so not many households make their own and would rather just buy them from the stores than slave over stirring for hours. Not all Filipino treats are as laborious, but if you want good kakanin, you will have to be ready to fill up your entire day in the kitchen.

To make things clear, what qualifies as kakanin? There are a few characteristics of these treats:

Made from rice (or sweet rice) or root vegetables like ube, cassava, and taro

Will use coconut and coconut by-products

Cooked in banana leaf or flavored with pandan leaf

Usually is sticky, chewy, and takes hours to make—a real labor of love

Sure, they’re not easy to make, but the satisfying taste in the end makes it worth all the hard work.

While kids are not the biggest fans of native treats outside of parties and fiestas, these are the kinds of food that overseas workers and emigrants usually miss—especially if they’ve been out of the country for far too long. Which of these treats are your favorites?

Kalamay

Sweet Rice Dessert with Coconut Cream Topping

Kutsinta

Sticky Rice Cake

Puto

Steamed Rice Cake

Bibingka

Rice Cake Cooked in Banana Leaves

Palitaw

Sticky Rice with Shredded Coconut, Sugar, and Sesame Seeds

Cassava Cake

Cassava Pudding Made with Coconut Milk, Eggs, and Butter

Biko

Sweet Sticky Rice with Latik Topping

You can learn how to make this delicious kakanin through our biko recipe.